Gil Gerard, best known for his iconic turn as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, has passed away at age 82 after a battle with cancer. His wife, Janet Gerard, announced the news on social media, sharing a heartfelt tribute to the actor.
The adventure-filled Buck Rogers series, produced by Glen A. Larson, aired on NBC for two seasons in the early 1980s. It rode the momentum of the Star Wars era with a blend of action and humor, notably featuring the chatterbox robot Twiki, voiced by Mel Blanc. The show followed Buck Rogers alongside the brave Col. Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) and the enigmatic, feathered alien Hawk (Thom Christopher).
The television saga originated from a theatrical TV movie of the same name, which performed reasonably well at the box office and later served as the series’ pilot.
Following Buck Rogers, Gerard remained actively involved in screen work, mainly in episodic TV and independent films.
His notable credits included a role as Dr. John Harding in CBS’s short-lived E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990) and a six-episode stint on Days of Our Lives in 1997. In more recent years, he appeared opposite Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys, playing Bergen Paulsen.
Before Buck Rogers, Gerard was a familiar face on NBC’s The Doctors, portraying Dr. Alan Stewart in more than 300 episodes.
A full statement from Janet Gerard was shared alongside the news:
“Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer. From the moment we sensed something was wrong until his passing this morning was measured in days. No matter how many years I had with him, it would never be enough. Cherish the people you love and hold them close.”
